By Cliff Rold
After a weekend that saw two significant matches at Jr. Welterweight and a new Welterweight titlist crowned, it stands to reason there will be some changes in the ratings here at BoxingScene. Altogether, three of boxing’s seventeen weight classes saw top ten fighters in action but none were more affected than the Jr. Welterweights.
Most notably, Devon Alexander crashes the 140 lb. ratings in a big way. Junior Witter has been a steady presence near the top of the division for many years and Alexander became the first man ever to stop him from hearing the final bell. It’s a noteworthy accomplishment in a noteworthy week.
For the first week of August 2009, this is your BoxingScene Divisional Ratings Update.
Welterweight (141-147 lbs.)
2nd Quarter and August to Date Results
04/10: Vyacheslav Senchenko (29-0, 20 KO) UD12 #5 Yuri Nuzhenko (28-1-1, 13 KO, WBA)
05/30: #4 Andre Berto (25-0, 19 KO, WBC) UD12 #4 at 140 Juan Urango (21-2-1, 16 KO, IBF)
06/13: #2 Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KO, WBO) SD12 #3 Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KO)
08/01: #8 Issac Hlatshawyo (29-1-1, 10 KO) SD12 Delvin Rodriguez (24-3-2, 14 KO); vacant IBF belt
World Welterweight Champion: Vacant
Top Ten Contenders
1. Shane Mosley (46-5, 39 KO, WBA Super, 0 Defenses)
2. Miguel Cotto (34-1, 27 KO, WBO, 1 Defense)
3. Joshua Clottey (35-3, 20 KO)
4. Andre Berto (25-0, 19 KO, WBC, 3 Defenses)
5. Luis Collazo (29-4, 14 KO)
6. Issac Hlatshawyo (28-1-1, 10 KO, IBF, 0 Defenses)
7. Vyacheslav Senchenko (29-0, 20 KO, WBA Regular, 0 Defenses)
8. Jesus Soto-Karass (23-3-3, 16 KO)
9. Carlos Quintana (26-2, 20 KO)
10. Zab Judah (37-6, 25 KO)
Rating Notes…Hlatshawyo makes a bump up after winning his first major title with a win over Rodriguez. It was their second consecutive contest after a draw last November…In the bigger picture of the division, Antonio Margarito remains suspended, Shane Mosley remains looking for a fight, and Miguel Cotto keeps making wars…Cotto’s gutsy win over Clottey allowed both men to exit with renewed respect…Senchenko enters the ratings off of his win over Nuzhenko in a decent fight. Why are there two WBA champions when Mosley isn’t a unified titlist? Ask the WBA…Inactivity marks much of the bottom half of the division…Is this still the best division in boxing? Much could depend on how serious the now unretired Floyd Mayweather is about fighting Welterweights…It certainly has a heck of a show for the fall with the official signing of Cotto and Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao wants to attempt a record seventh title in a seventh weight class but Cotto has threatened to vacate the WBO belt if Pacquiao will not agree to abandon a 145-lb. catchweight. Cotto is right in principle but the WBO may sanction the bout for Pacquiao anyways.
Previous Champion: Floyd Mayweather (2006-08, Retired)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal or Other: Henry Armstrong - 18
No Key Contests Remain Through August
Jr. Welterweight (136-140 lbs.)
2nd Quarter and August to Date Results
04/04: #1 Timothy Bradley (24-0, 11 KO, WBC) UD12 #2 Kendall Holt (25-3, 13 KO, WBO)
04/25: #7 Paulie Malignaggi (25-2, 5 KO) UD8 Christopher Fernandez (16-7, 9 KO)
05/02: #8 Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KO) KO2 World Champion Ricky Hatton (45-2, 32 KO, Lineal/Ring)
06/27: #9 Marcos Maidana (26-1, 25 KO) TKO6 #10 Victor Ortiz (24-2-1, 19 KO)
07/18: Amir Khan (21-1, 15 KO) UD12 #3 Andriy Kotelnik (31-3-1, 13 KO)
08/01: #1 Timothy Bradley (25-0, 12 KO, WBO) vs. #5 Nate Campbell (33-6-1, 25 KO)
08/01: Devon Alexander (19-0, 12 KO) RTD8 #6 Junior Witter (37-3-2, 22 KO); vacant WBC belt
World Jr. Welterweight Champion: Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 36 KO, Lineal/Ring)
Lineage Descends From: Tszyu KO2 Judah, 11/03/2001
Top Ten Contenders
1. Timothy Bradley (25-0, 12 KO, WBO, 1 Defense)
2. Ricky Hatton (45-2, 32 KO)
3. Kendall Holt (25-3, 13 KO)
4. Juan Urango (21-2-1, 16 KO, IBF, 0 Defenses)
5. Devon Alexander (19-0, 12 KO, WBC, 0 Defenses)
6. Nate Campbell (33-6-1, 25 KO)
7. Amir Khan (21-1, 15 KO, WBA, 0 Defenses)
8. Andriy Kotelnik (31-3-1, 13 KO)
9. Marcos Maidana (26-1, 25 KO)
10. Junior Witter (37-3-2, 22 KO)
Ratings Notes…Bradley strengthens his hold on the number one contenders spot even if the result against Campbell wasn’t entirely conclusive. Given replays which showed a head butt, and not a punch, as the cause of their early ended bout, Campbell doesn’t slip too far…He does slip one spot though to make room for Alexander who was impressive in outboxing the veteran Witter…Witter drops to number ten, bumping Paulie Malignaggi from the ratings…Pacquiao reigns up top, a lineal champion in a record fourth weight division, after ending the almost four year reign of Hatton...Urango and Holt are both coming off losses, the former at Welterweight and the latter in a unification showdown with Bradley and neither was affected by the most recent results…Khan crashed the ratings in his first fight in the division, a rousing victory over Kotelnik…Kotelnik’s loss freezes Maidana even on the heels of the puncher’s thrilling win over Ortiz.
Previous Champion: Ricky Hatton (2005-09)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal: Antonio Cervantes - 10
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Other: Julio Cesar Chavez (WBC) - 13
Current Champion – Defenses: 0
No Key Contests Remain Through August
Jr. Lightweight (127-130 lbs.)
2nd Quarter and July to Date Results
04/18: #9 Malcolm Klassen (24-4-2, 15 KO) TKO7 #2 Cassius Baloyi (36-4-1, 19 KO, IBF)
05/01: #6 Urbano Antillon (26-0, 19 KO) TKO5 Tyrone Harris (23-5, 15 KO)
05/02: #1 Humberto Soto (48-7-2, 31 KO, WBC) TKO9 Benoit Gaudet (20-2, 7 KO)
06/12: #5 Robert Guerrero (24-1-1, 17 KO) RTD8 Efren Hinojosa (30-6-1, 17 KO)
06/27: #4 Jorge Linares (27-0, 18 KO, WBA) TKO8 Josafat Perez (12-2, 7 KO)
07/18: #10 Kevin Mitchell (29-0, 22 KO) TKO8 Rudy Encarnacion (18-16-2, 8 KO)
07/31: #7 Mzonke Fana (29-4, 12 KO) TKO6 Jasper Seroka (18-2, 8 KO)
World Jr. Lightweight Champion: Vacant
Top Ten Contenders
1. Humberto Soto (48-7-2, 31 KO, WBC, 2 Defenses)
2. Malcolm Klassen (24-4-2, 15 KO, IBF, 0 Defenses)
3. Roman Martinez (22-0-1, 13 KO, WBO, 0 Defenses)
4. Jorge Linares (27-0, 18 KO, WBA, 1 Defense)
5. Robert Guerrero (24-1-1, 17 KO)
6. Cassius Baloyi (36-4-1, 19 KO)
7. Mzonke Fana (29-4, 12 KO)
8. Sergey Gulyakevich (26-1, 12 KO)
9. Kevin Mitchell (29-0, 22 KO)
10. Nicky Cook (29-2, 16 KO)
Ratings Notes…This remains a division in search of an identity…Lots of interesting fights and fighters available near the top but is there a will, or the cash, to make it happen…Guerrero will challenge Klassen and could force some issues with a win…Antillon is now rated at Lightweight, where he had most of his last few fights, allowing Nicky Cook to slide back in at ten…Linares is a talent, but that doesn’t mean something forever. Let’s hope we’re not still wondering what if at the end of the year…Mitchell is well positioned to be the latest British idol and is working towards mandatory status in the IBF and WBO.
Previous Champion: Manny Pacquiao (2008, Vacated)
Consecutive Title Defense Record, Lineal or Other: Brian Mitchell – 13
Key Jr. Lightweight Contests Through August
08/22: #2 Malcom Klassen vs. #5 Robert Guerrero
Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at roldboxing@hotmail.com
